Spline puller for wash machine agitators



Oct. 31, 1961 A. J. HOLMAN 3,007,025

SPLINE FULLER FOR WASH MACHINE AGITATORS Filed July 17, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. firf/r ur J f/o/mam HTTOIPNE Oct. 31, 1961 A. J. HOLMAN 3,007,025

SPLINE FULLER FOR WASH MACHINE AGITATORS Filed July 17, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,007,025 SPLINE PULLER FOR WASH MACHINE AGITATORS Arthur Holman, 2220 Wall St., Sioux City, Iowa Filed July 17, 1958, Ser. No. 749,168 I 2 Claims. (Cl. 21921) My invention relates to a combination tool or device for removing the spline and replacing the same from a wash machine agitator.

An object of my invention is to provide a simple device for this purpose, and whereby the device or devices can remove and replace the spline at the wash machine location without the necessity of taking the agitator itself to a remote work-shop or the like, the devices providing means whereby this complete operation can be done at the wash machine location.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device which can be manufactured at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view taken substantially along the axis of the wash machine agitator and showing the use of a portion of the device,

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of FIGURE 1 taken along the lines 2-2 thereof,

FIGURE 3 is a similar section to FIGURE 1 showing a further portion of the device in use, and

FIGURE 4 is a detail.

My invention contemplates the provision of a tool, or tools, which will readily and conveniently remove the spline from a wash machine agitator, which also will provide means for installing a new spline, and so that this can be accomplished without requiring the need of cumbersome and heavy equipment, and so that the operations can be provided at a household location.

I have used the character to indicate the flared conical portion of a conventional wash machine agitator, the character 11 indicating the usual fins of which there can be four or more, and I have further used the character 12 to indicate the hub portion including the opening 13.

Secured in the opening 13 is the usual spline attachment which comprises the rubber annular inserts 14 which are securely moulded together with the female spline portion 15 having the usual spline slots 16 therein, these members comprising the usual spline member which is adapted to fit the male spline shaft which operates the agitator.

This member is usually firmly seated within the opening 13 and it has been the custom to remove these by means of heavy and cumbersome equipment, until the member 15 is removed, and then it has been necessary to scrape away the remaining parts of the members 14, after which it has been necessary to replace the complete assembly comprising the members 14 and 15 with the use of further cumbersome shop equipment.

In my invention I provide a rod or bar 17 to which is attached at 18 a handle 19, and receiving the bar 17 is an annular casing 20 in which I provide an electric resistance coil which is connected to the twin lead 21 which passes to the plug 22 having the contacts 23.

Securely attached to the bar 17 at 24 is a further portion 25 which extends integrally intoa male spline member 26 having the radially extending spline portions 27 which are adapted to be received within the spline portions of the member 15.

FIGURE 1 illustrates the use of this part of the tool for removing the spline member 14, 15, and in accom- "ice plishing this part of the process, the male spline member 26 is inserted within the member 15 as shown in FIG- URE 1, and the contacts 23 of the plug 22 are placed in any convenient'socket. As a result, the coil withln the casing 20 will be heated, which heat will be transferred to the male spline member 26, this heat passing through the member 15 into the rubber inserts 14, until the heat is sufficient enough to de-vulcanize the rubber from the member 15. The resistance within the casing 20 is made of the requisite amount to heat and soften the rubber parts to the degree necessary without excess heatrng.

After the rubber has become tie-vulcanized as stated above, the handle .19 can be rotated to remove the entire member 15 in a positive and convenient manner, and which can be done in a minimum of time. The rubber inserts 14 are then easily removed by the use of a simple rick.

p The next step is to install a new unit 14, 15, and for this purpose I provide the further portion of the tool shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, in which the character 28 indicates a further male spline member similar to the member 26, this member 28 being secured as at 29 to a portion 30 which extends into the circular member 31 which is an integral part of a cylindrical member 32 having the small conical depression 33 therein.

The character 34 indicates a movable bracket which is threadably engaged as at 35 with the lengthened threaded screw 36 terminating in a handle 37, the screw 36 terminating in a further portion 38 having the conical end 39, the character 40 indicating a boss which is a continuation of the bracket 34.

The bracket 34 includes two pairs of spaced ears 41 through which ears pass the pins 42, and curled about the pins 42 at 43 are the extremities of the straps 44, which straps 44 are bent at 45 into the further strap portions 46 substantially at right angles to the portions 44, the portions 46 including the lengthened slots 47 therein (see FIGURE 4).

When installing this unit, the slots 47 are placed so that they will receive the fins or blades 11 of the agitator. The screw 36 is rotated so that it will pass in the direction of the arrow 48, and next, the spline portion 28 is engaged with the female spline portion 15 carrying the rubber elements 14, and this assembly is started within the opening 13.

The screw 36 is then rotated by the handle 37 so that the screw will travel in the direction of the arrow 49, with the conical point 39 bearing against the depressed point 33. This operation is continued until the new insert spline portion is forced firmly into the opening 13, whereby the screw is again reversed and the assembled member 28, 31 and 32 is removed. The portion 30 is slightly expanded to be received within the recessed portion 50 of the member 15 so that the pressure can be applied against the member 15.

It Will thus be noted that the complete operation of removing and replacing the spline unit is rendered in the manner stated in the objects of my invention. It will also be seen that I have provided the advantages mentioned in the objects of my invention, with further advantages being apparent.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for removing a female spline attachment of the type having an annular rulbber insert attached thereto, from a wash machine agitator, comprising a lengthened'bar, an electric heating resistance coil enclosing the end of said bar, a male spline portion attached at the end of said bar adapted to engage said female spline attachment, said male spline portion being adapted to receive heat from said resistance coil to devulcanize said rubber annular insert.

2. A device for removing a female spline attachment of the type having an annular rubber insert attached thereto, from a wash machine agitator comprising a lengthened bar, an electric heating resistance coil enclosing the end of said bar, a male spline portion attached at the end of said bar adapted-to engage said female spline attachment, said male spline portion being adapted to receive heat from said resistance coil to devulcanize said rubber annular insert, a handle attached to said bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,305,322 Towler June 3, 1919 1,493,762 Mannion et al May 13, 1924 1,675,568 Lyen July 3, 1928 2,429,888 Moore Oct. 28, 1947 2,465,144 Wyatt Mar. 22, 1949 2,514,092 Reese July 4, 1950 2,826,667 Brillinger Mar. 11, 1958 

